ToT Challenge for Fiction Writers — My mother used to write fiction, in most of the same genres which I enjoy writing and reading. When she was deep in writing mode my family would fondly describe her as being “away with the fairies”. …

… and I helped the dogs find their forever home — I’ve written before about how I worked at a dog rescue to help me deal with the grief of my own dog’s sudden death. …

Melissa and her mother try bringing her bereaved grandfather some Christmas cheer (Pure Fiction Winter Competition) — “Why do we have to spend Christmas with Grandad? “C’mon Melissa, we’ve talked about this. He’s all alone since Nanny B died. He’ll be sad and lonely, and perhaps us being there will make him feel better.” Mum trailed off, as if she wasn’t convinced by her last statement. Melissa…

Tanya’s beach find is beautiful, but may not be an ordinary shell — The children came home from the beach, hungry and tired. Their hair was tangled by the salty sea breeze, and their feet and legs were caked with sand. …

Beehives, Battles and Bunting, Episode 4 — Previously — Hot headed Hannah argued with a total stranger when she received an eviction notice relating to the ring road. Hannah slammed the front door and wiped her shoes on the mat with unrestrained vigour, hoping to cleanse the heat and itch of embarrassment. …

Ruby struggles to cope with the news she’s been dreading — Ep 3 — Previously: Ruby’s elderly neighbour’s fall, lands him in hospital. When she visits, he slips in and out of lucidity, talking about suspicious behaviour that leaves her confused To help me earn from this story, please read to the end, clap & leave me a highlight or a comment — I'd love to know what you think I felt infinitely weary and crushed when I got the call I’d been dreading about Henry, from the hospital. I stood dumbly, tears…

Henry’s hospital stay gives Ruby cause for concern — To help me earn from this story, please read to the end, clap (up to 50 times) & leave me a highlight & a comment — I love to know what you think My heart plummeted two days later when the hospital’s number flashed up on my phone, it was a call to tell me Henry had taken a turn for the worse. …

Beehives, Battles and Bunting — Episode 3 — Hannah inherited her great aunt’s rural cottage, plus the unusual legacy of having one of ‘the fair folk’ tending the garden. Having decided to move to the village, she discovers plans for a ring road which would disrupt the village idyll To help me earn on Medium, please read to the end, clap & comment on the parts which resonated with you “What the Dickens…?” …

Beehives, Battles and Bunting — Ep. 2 — Having inherited her great aunt’s house in a rural village, plus the unusual legacy of having one of ‘the fair folk’ working in the garden, Hannah begins adjusting her life to fit the new circumstances. To help me earn on Medium, please read to the end, clap & comment on the parts which resonated with you Ending the rental contract for my flat had been relatively easy, the battle only kicked…